The decision to become pregnant is a significant life choice. By working with healthcare experts in advance, you can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and a positive outcome. If you’re planning to conceive, consider scheduling a preconception consultation with your healthcare provider several months to a year before attempting to get pregnant. This allows time to implement any necessary lifestyle adjustments or prenatal testing they recommend. If you have concerns or anticipate a high-risk pregnancy, talk to your doctor to see if they recommend consulting a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist for any extra guidance and care.
What is Preconception Care?
Preconception care is taking proactive steps to optimize your health before getting pregnant, which evidence suggests can significantly impact the possibility of a healthy pregnancy. In fact, as the clinical evidence continues to support this idea, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics has developed an online preconception checklist patients can bring to appointments to review with their doctors.
Perinatal and MFM specialists tend to emphasize the importance of preparing your body for pregnancy through informed nutrition and lifestyle choices. And for those who may be considered high-risk, preconception care is particularly crucial.
Understanding Your Risk Factors
Before diving into the ways to boost your preconception health via lifestyle and nutrition, it’s essential to understand what might classify you as high-risk. Factors can include:
- Preexisting health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or autoimmune diseases
- Previous pregnancy complications like preeclampsia or preterm labor
- Family history of genetic disorders
- Age (under 18 or over 35)
Consulting with an MFM specialist can provide personalized insights into your specific risk factors and how to manage them before becoming pregnant. Some medications you’re taking for your own health conditions may need to be adjusted or changed before pregnancy. Genetic counseling is available for advance testing to help you understand your risks and options if there’s a family history of genetic disorders — or even if there’s no history.
Making Positive Changes Ahead of Time
Preconception care and planning is often referred to as a “window of opportunity” for women’s health, as it motivates women to adopt healthy habits that can have both short- and long-term benefits for their health and their baby’s health. Although approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned — globally and in the United States — this still presents millions of adorable little opportunities to apply our growing knowledge and advancing technology to improve preconception and perinatal care.
Another improvement in this field is, in addition to the preexisting conditions covered, it should be noted that if you have any behavioral health concerns such as a history of perinatal depression, or if you are currently being treated for depression, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) encourages you to be open with your healthcare provider to ensure your mental health remains a priority during perinatal care. There’s substantial clinical evidence surrounding this topic to inform your shared decision-making, and many MFM specialists receive specialized training in this area during their medical education.
Here’s a list of other foundational changes that can make a big difference as you begin to think about how (and when) to get pregnant:
Nutrition: The Foundation of Preconception Health
- Folic Acid and Folate: Essential for preventing neural tube defects, folic acid supplementation is recommended for all women planning pregnancy. Foods rich in folate, such as leafy greens and legumes, are also beneficial.
- Balanced Diet: A diet rich in whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, supports overall health and prepares your body for pregnancy.
- Iron and Calcium: Adequate intake of iron and calcium is vital. Iron supports healthy red blood cells, while calcium is crucial for bone health.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These are important for fetal brain development. Sources include fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.
Lifestyle Choices That Make a Difference
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in moderate physical activity can improve overall health and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy.
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Being either underweight or overweight can increase pregnancy risks. A healthy weight reduces these risks and supports a smoother pregnancy.
- Stress Management: High levels of stress can negatively impact health. Practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can be beneficial.
- Avoiding Harmful Substances: Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding illicit drugs are critical steps in preparing for a healthy pregnancy.
Additional Preconception and Pregnancy Recommendations
Before becoming pregnant, it’s beneficial to address certain preventive health care measures. For instance, a dental checkup and a good cleaning are recommended, since some dental treatments may be limited during pregnancy.
The SMFM also advises on vaccinations before, during, and after pregnancy, depending on the time of year and individual vaccination history. It’s essential to consult with your healthcare provider about the recommended vaccinations and their timing to ensure the best possible protection for you and your baby.
Learn More or See a Specialist
Learn more about nearly every topic related to pregnancy and parenting, all developed and reviewed by Nemours pediatric experts in our Nemours® KidsHealth pregnancy and newborn topic area. If you need guidance or have a high-risk pregnancy, Nemours is here to support you with specialized care including MFM, genetic counseling, state-of-the-art imaging.
